Our world-class speakers cover the areas of design, sustainability, technology, and extremes. We are still finalizing our list, so please check back soon or follow us on Twitter for updates. Please note that speaker lineup and schedule are subject to change at any time.
Cathy McGill
giving voice to song and social justice.Cathryn McGill is a singer/songwriter living in Albuquerque, New Mexico, whose “gospel-cooked jazz and blues” vocals and powerful songwriting has been critically acclaimed all over the United States. Throughout her career, Cathy has used the arts as a means to evoke dialogue around critical civic issues such as domestic and sexual violence, racial prejudice and other social inequities. |
Church of Beethoven
not a church, more than Beethoven and plenty of coffee.“Albuquerque’s quirkiest weekly concert series” says Albuquerque the Magazine of the Church of Beethoven’s community-oriented, arts-centered weekly performances of music and spoken word. Each hour-long, high-quality, professional staged performance is steeped in coffee drinks and musical excellence. The Church of Beethoven is not a church, and it’s much more than Beethoven! |
Croft Elsaesser
unearthing a trend that’s been around for thousand of years.Croft Elsaesser is an inventor with an environmental bent. He began his career as a high-end faux finisher. The work fulfilled him as an artisan yet depleted his health, as it required that he work amidst toxic fumes on a regular basis. In response to his declining health, Croft created a 100% natural clay-based plaster — a finishing material that’s been around for thousands of years. Crofts variation on the tried and true plaster is now used in houses the world-over, especially by clients who charish a natural finish which also makes their home healthier. |
Dr. Diana E. Northup
sharing a passion for science, showing the way to meaning.Dr. Northup has been studying things that live in caves since 1984 and has been featured on NOVA. She has a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of New Mexico where she is a Professor Emerita. By sharing her own passion and enthusiasm for science she has become the catalyst for students journeying to find the meaning and passion in their own life’s work. |
Hakim Bellamy
poetry giveth and giveth again: teaching and learning from poetry.Hakim Bellamy is a two-time Poetry Slam National Champion, and has been named “Best Poet” by both the Local iQ (Smart List 2010 & 2011) and the Alibi (Best of Burque 2010 & 2011). As an educator and performer, he is interested not only in the poetry lessons he teaches his students, but the lessons which Poetry has taught him. |
Jill Vialet
making kids feel safer, more engaged and more connected through play.Jill Vialet believes that playing is essential to human development, and addresses significant education reform issues by encouraging greater creativity and problem-solving skills. This approach, she says, creates learning environments where kids feel safer, more engaged and more connected. Jill launched Playworks in 1996 in Berkeley, California. In 2012, Playworks will be bringing play and physical activities to 350 low-income, urban elementary schools in 23 cities, including Albuquerque. |
Nancy Judd
creating evocative couture sculptures from trash.Nancy Judd creates evocative couture sculptures from trash. Each of her garments has a mission—to inspire people to look at garbage with new eyes. Her work is designed to motivate people to reduce their carbon footprint in all parts of their lives — in a fun and positive way. |
Ned A. Godshall
creating disruptive and practical change to make clean water a global reality.3.5 million people die each year from a lack of clean drinking water. Serial entrepreneur Dr. Ned Godshall wants to put an end to that. As Founder and CEO of Altela, Inc., he has a passion for creating disruptive and practical change, and his company has a simple solution inspired by nature for making clean water a world-wide reality. |
Nina Simons
demanding a reinvention of leadership in every sector, discipline and generation across the globe.Nina Simons is a social entrepreneur, accomplished in both the nonprofit and corporate worlds. Nina believes that in this time of massive social and ecological change — when all of earth’s life support systems are under serious, accelerating threat and our social and geopolitical systems are shifting rapidly –- we must demand a reinvention of leadership in every sector, discipline and generation across the globe. Nina is the co-founder and co-CEO of Bioneers, a social nonprofit organization that, since 1990, has provided breakthrough solutions for people and planet. |
Peter Warshall
creating greater local self-reliance and enhanced prosperity in a green economy.Peter Warshall is Co-Director of the Bioneers’ Dreaming New Mexico Project, and a world-renowned water steward, biodiversity and wildlife specialist, research scientist, conservationist, and environmental activist. Dreaming New Mexico has built a map of pragmatic and visionary solutions to create a more localized and green economy with greater local self-reliance and enhanced prosperity. |
Rachel Preston Prinz
our architectural past lights the way to a green, sustainable, visually stunning future.Rachel Preston Prinz is an architectural designer and historian who has worked in the cathedrals and villas of Europe, as well as alongside Americans specializing in religious architecture, historic preservation and ultra-high-end custom residential design. Rachel believes that studying New Mexico’s archaeological record is as interesting as a reflection on our past, but can also be utilized by modern architects, designers, and builders to create visually stunning, sustainable architecture that’s not only green, but also a reflection on our rich heritage. |
Shana Rappaport
the future lies in a reinvented education system that goes beyond the classroom boundaries.Shana Rappaport is on a mission to harness the power of colleges and universities to directly engage young people. As the manager of Bioneer’s Education for Action Program, she believes the key to a sustainable future lies in the reinvention of educational systems. Forging a more sustainable future by taking education beyond classroom boundaries, to action-oriented projects that result in real-world, practical solutions and change. |
Megan Kamerick
uncovering the link between gender and your nightly news. Well, all news.Megan Kamerick has been a business reporter for 16 years. She’s received awards around the country for investigative profiles, breaking news, and her portrayal of women. She has received top honors for her work in New Orleans on business and environmental stories, and has been recognized nationally by the Association of Area Business Publications for an editorial on civil liberties. As president of the Women in Journalism Symposium, Megan is working to change the way gender roles affect how news is covered in the world today. |
Ries Robinson
lighting the way to a better world through science.A doctor and serial entrepreneur, Dr. Ries Robinson believes that light can change the way the world of medicine works. He’s done research with UNM’s School of Medicine, worked with Sandia Labs and been named New Mexico Inventor of the year. His presentations on innovative light technology have raised hundreds of millions of dollars. He is driven by passion and tenacity, and a vision to create a better world through science. |
Henry Rael
connecting to the farm,and the farm to the consumer.Henry Rael’s community organization was selected by the USDA in 2009 ago to create new farms in Albuquerque’s South Valley. He started with a single backyard farm, which has — since — grown to multiple sites. There are more than two acres under cultivation this year. Henry, whose background is in software development, is working to build a software platform to better connect growers and consumers; providing growers with a steady, reasonable market while delivering a safer, healthier, and more humane diet for New Mexico families. |
Dr. Arthur Kaufman
helping meet the health care needs of all.Dr. Arthur Kaufman has a passion for creating innovative education and service models to better address community, indigent, rural and population health needs. He is the Vice Chancellor for Community Health at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, and a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine, which he chaired for 15 years. He helped initiate the Primary Care Curriculum in New Mexico, which became an international model for change in traditional medical schools everywhere. Dr. Kauffman has authored more than 70 publications and four books focused on providing healthcare to uninsured and marginalized populations. |
